DATE=10/6/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-239777
TITLE=AMNESTY/U-S-A (L ONLY)
BYLINE=DOUGLAS ROBERTS
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP AMNESTY
INTERNATIONAL HAS ISSUED A SCATHING CONDEMNATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
ABUSE IN THE UNITED STATES. AMNESTY'S SECRETARY GENERAL PIERRE
SANE HELD A NEWS CONFERENCE IN WASHINGTON TODAY (TUESDAY),
MARKING THE START OF A YEAR-LONG CAMPAIGN TO FOCUS ATTENTION ON
AND HOPEFULLY PROMOTE SOLUTIONS TO WHAT THE GROUP CONSIDERS
AMERICA'S HUMAN RIGHTS PROBLEMS. DOUGLAS ROBERTS REPORTS.
TEXT: AMNESTY'S NEW 153-PAGE REPORT SLAMS THE U-S HUMAN RIGHTS
RECORD IN A NUMBER OF AREAS, INCLUDING THE CONTINUED RESORT TO
THE DEATH PENALTY, WIDESPREAD POLICE BRUTALITY, AND VIOLENCE AND
INHUMANE TREATMENT OF DETAINEES IN AMERICAN PRISONS.
AMNESTY'S SECRETARY GENERAL, PIERRE SANE OF SENEGAL, SAYS THE
MIS-TREATMENT OF DETAINEES EXTENDS INCREASINGLY EVEN TO
ASYLUM-SEEKERS, THOSE DRAWN BY WHAT HE TERMED THE MYTH THAT THE
UNITED STATES IS A HUMAN RIGHTS PARADISE.
///SANE ACT///
FOR THEM, THE HARSH REALITY OF THE WAY ASYLUM-SEEKERS
ARE TREATED IN THE UNITED STATES CONTINUES TO PUT A
DISCREDIT ON THE CLAIM OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT
THAT IT IS A CHAMPION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS.
///END ACT///
THAT WAS THE DOMINANT THEME OF MR. SANE'S PRESENTATION HERE
TUESDAY -- THAT ON THE QUESTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS, THE UNITED
STATES IS GUILTY OF EMPLOYING A DOUBLE STANDARD.
///SANE ACT///
THE IRONY IN ALL THIS IS THAT WHILE THE UNITED STATES
REGULARLY JUDGES OTHER COUNTRIES USING INTERNATIONAL
HUMAN RIGHTS STANDARDS THAT THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
HAS DEVELOPED, IT FAILS TO APPLY THOSE STANDARDS AT
HOME.
///END ACT///
INITIAL U-S REACTION TO THE REPORT HAS BEEN MILD. THE STATE
DEPARTMENT PRAISES AMNESTY'S WORK AND SAYS IT WELCOMES THE
ORGANIZATION'S SCRUTINY. BUT STATE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS SAY THEY
BELIEVE THE U-S POLITICAL AND JUDICIAL SYSTEMS REMAIN THE ENVY OF
THE WORLD.
MR. SANE SAYS HE EXPECTS TO HEAR MUCH HARSHER CRITICISM OF
AMNESTY, AS THE ORGANIZATION PUSHES AHEAD WITH ITS YEAR-LONG
CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE GREATER U-S RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS.
HE SAYS AMNESTY WILL BE CHALLENGING U-S AUTHORITIES AND
LEGISLATORS TO, AS HE PUT IT, PUT THEIR MONEY WHERE THEIR MOUTHS
ARE TO ENSURE THAT HUMAN RIGHTS PRACTICES IN THE UNITED STATES
MATCH WASHINGTON'S VAUNTED DEFENSE OF HUMAN RIGHTS AROUND THE
WORLD.
///SANE ACT///
THIS IS NOT A U-S BASHING CAMPAIGN. IT IS NOT A
CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE UNITED STATES. IT IS A CAMPAIGN
FOR HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE UNITED STATES. WE BELIEVE THAT
IMPROVING HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTION IN THE UNITED STATES
CAN ONLY HELP STRENGTHEN OUR HAND AS A HUMAN RIGHTS
CAMPAIGNING ORGANIZATION IN IMPROVING HUMAN RIGHTS
EVERYWHERE.
///END ACT///
MR. SANE IS PLANNING TO TRAVEL AROUND THE COUNTRY PROMOTING THE
AMNESTY CAMPAIGN. AND THE ORGANIZATION WILL BE ISSUING A SERIES
OF IN-DEPTH REPORTS OVER THE NEXT TWELVE MONTHS, EXAMINING WHAT
IT SEES AS AMERICA'S MAJOR HUMAN RIGHTS PROBLEMS. (SIGNED)
NEB/DBR/KL
06-Oct-98 12:27 PM EDT (1627 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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